Method of handling phase-changeable material



April 26, H. B. RUDD METHOD OF HANDLING PHASE CHANGEABLE MATERIAL FiledfFeb. 21, 1929 l cfcoMPkfssa/a f i 4 Z i I z3 'z3 l INVENTOR Bw y@ im, Avromqsnfa Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY B. RUDD, OF DO'UG'LAS'IOIN',l NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RUDD PATENTS GOR- PORATION, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE METHOD 0F HANDLING PHASE-GHANGEABLE MATERIAL Application led February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,712.

This invention relates-in general to the art of distributing and handling solid carbon dioxide or other equivalent refrigerants or materials.

To great extent, it is the present commercial practice to dispense carbon dioxide for carbonating or other purposes to drug stores, bottling establishments, and the like in metal tanks or drums. With one standard line of such tanks, each tank Weighs in excess of 100 pounds and the material, gaseous and liquid carbon dioxide, charged thereinto for dispensing purposes Weighs approximately 50 pounds. This means that more than 100 poundsof metal mustbe transported from the charging plant, to the druggist, bottler or the like, and then back again each time that 50 pounds of carbon dioxide is used. A dispensing arrangement much more economical and advantageous than the foregoing involves the permanent location at the drug store or bottling establishment of a tank which is charged with solid carbon dioxide as required. Under such circumstances, cartage of a heavy metal tank back and forth iseliminated as is the attendant inconvenience and trouble of disconnection and connection of tanks to the carbonating or other system.

In accordance with the invention of this application, I provide a plurality of tanks or containers which are charged alternately with solid carbon dioxide and from Which the carbon dioxide gas and/or liquid is alter-- natel withdrawn. More particularly, while with ravving the gaseous and/or liquid material from one or` a plurality of tanks, I

vcharge one or more other tanks with solid carbon dioxide. Then, While still Withdrawing material from the tank or tanks first mentioned, the more recently charged material changes in phase and is in condition for use when required. The tank or tanks just emptied are then recharged with other solid carbon dioxide to be ready for use when required.y In this manner, the tanks are alternately utilized for the intended purpose. Experience has demonstrated that a system as described is highly satisfactory and eiicient, and that the use of such a system overcomes the disadvantages of dispensing carbon dioxide from portable drums carted back and forth or from single tanks permanently located at the point of use as described above.

The invention resides in the novel features, methods and system of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a plant for producing solid carbon dioxide or the like;

Fig. 2 isa diagrammatic elevation partly in section of receptacles for the solid material and devices for metering and handling the gaseousand liquid products from the receptacles; and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan of the receptacles taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring noW to Fig. l, the numeral l indicates a storage tank f-or carbon dioxide or other gas under high pressure. Leading from this tank is a pipe 2 to a dryer 3 filled With calcium chloride or other agent for taking moisture out of the carbon dioxide. Pipe 3 leads from the dryer to coil 4 surrounded by a cooler 5, the coil being connected to pipe 6 with an ice former 7 similar to that disclosed in my copending application Ser.

No. 320,060 filed November 17, 1928, but` with a higher cover-8, and a corresponding` ly larger ice cake forming chamber on the interior thereof. A pipe 9 leads from the ice former to a compressor 10 Which communi# cates by pipe 11 with pipe 3 just before its entrance intoV the cooling coil 4.

With apparatus of this character, carbon dioxide snow or other like material may be produced for use in the parts of the appara-tus shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The apparatusv in Fig. 1 is intended to be installed at a central location for distribution of the carbon dioxide snow to the various consumers in the district surrounding the plant. If desired of course instead of having this apparatus stationary requiring the conveyance of the snow prduced to the various consumers, it may be mounted on a truck which may be driven to the consumers and ldelivery of the carbon dioxide snow made directly. Y

Referring now to Fig. 2, the numerals 12 and 13 indicate open ended cylinders serving .ber in the cover 8, or otherwise as may be desired; Each of the receptacles has a hinged Y cover 15 adapted to be held securely in place by a swing bolt 16 attached to the side of each receptacle and cooperating With a projection on the cover 15. Vents 17 provided with stop vcocks are placed on each cover to vent the interior of the receptacles. A safety valve 18 is placed near the top of each receptacle and is set so that in case the pressure rises too high the carbon dioxide or other gas will be vented to the atmosphere.-

Obviously, any other suitable cl-osure and sealing arrangement may 'be utilized for the receptacles 12 and 13 in lieu of that described immediately above.

The receptacles and other part-s described With the exception of the safety valve 18 may be housed in a housing 19 having a removable cover 20. The valves l18 pass through this housing in order to vent to the atmosphere. The receptacles do not occupy the entire housing and the space surrounding their side walls is preferably left vacant but may be filled with heat insulating material 21.

Extending from the bottom of each container is a pipe 22, provided with a valve 23, and leading to a common pipe line 24 which may include a meter 25 for measuring the liquid carbon dioxide passing therethrough. Liquid after passing through the meter may pass by a pipe 26 to a device 27 and to a coil structure 28 therein, passing therefrom in colder condition by a pipe 29 to an ice former 30 preferably of the kind described in my copending applica-tion Ser. No. 320,060, filed November 17, 1928. The coil structure 28 makes possible a high eiliciency in the operation of the device 30, but of course such coil may be omitted if desired.

The upper part of each container is provided With a valved pipe 31 Which communicates With a common pipe 32 including a gas meter 33, if desired. Gras passing through this meter proceeds by a pipe 34 to a carbonator 35.

The valve outlet 31 in each of the receptacles 13 is preferably at a distance below the top of the receptacle so that air Which remains in each receptacle which is sealed by the cap 15 Will form a stratum above the outlet and Will not pass out with the carbon dioxide gas through the meter and into the carbonator. After this stratum of air has been formed which will occur in a short time after pressure from change in phase of the carbon dioxide snow is built up in the -receptacle, it may be vented by opening the vent 17 in the top of each receptacle.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The compressed refrigerant is placed in the receptacle 12, for example, and the cover tightly clamped and opportunity given a part of the carbonv dioxide snow to change passes to the carbonator.

phase into liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide. Assuming liquid and gas are to be derived from said receptacle 12 containing the carbon dioxide snow 14, valve 23 in the line from receptacle 12 is opened to communicate with line 24, and line 31 communicating with receptacle 12, is opened to communicate With line 32. The gas will flow as required for carbonation of water or other beverage through the line 32, meter 33, pipe 34, to the 'carbonator 35 Where carbonation will take place in the usual manner to provide a supply of carbonated beverage such as soda Water Which may be dispensed in the usual manner from the soda fountain. The meter 33 accurately records the amount of gas Which is being used by the consumer in this Way. By placing the meter in the line at this point the consumer is assured that he is charged for only the amount of gas which actually ln other `Words if any gas is lost in delivering the refrigerant to him from the depot or truck described above, that loss does not fall on him; then again if there is anyA loss due to the blowing ofi' of the safety valve 18, that loss does not fall on the consumer.

Liquid flowing through the valve 23 from the container 12 passes to line 24 to the liquid meter 25 and thence through the pipe 26 into the device 27 Where on passing through the coil structure 28, it is.precooled to increase the efficiency of the ice former. The liquid then passes by pipe 29 into the ice former 30 Where it is reconverted into carbon dioxide snoW which may be used for packing in ice cream containers When ice cream is to be dispensed therein in the Well known manner. The meter 25 is placed similarly to meter 33 so that the liquid passing through it to t-he coil structure 28 and ice formeris actually the liquid used by the consumer and he (iis charged only for such liquid actually use When the pressure falls in the receptacle 12 indicating that it is becoming exhausted, the valves leading to the respective lines 24 and 32 from receptacle 12 are closed and receptacle 13'Which has been previously filled With another charge of carbon dioxide snovs7 and which in part at least has changed in phase, is put in communication with the lines 24 and 32 through the respective valves therein.l Receptacle 13. may thus alternate with receptacle 12 in supplying liquid and gaseous products as described.

It is obvious that refrigerants other than carbon dioxide snow may be employed. Carbon dioxide snow is particularly useful because itexists in three phases in the apparatus, namely; gaseous, liquid and solid.. The solid phase occupies little'room. The gaseous phase may be used for carbonating Water and the liquid phase for solidifying as pointed out. Carbon dioxide snou1 and similar refrigerants are distinguishable from ordinary ice by the fact that they are produced under high compression. I, therefore, prefer to refer to these refrigerants other than ordinary ice as compressed refrigerants, and where this expression is employed herein and in the appended claims, it is intended to designate such refrigerants.

In the appended claims, the expression solid carbon dioxide shall be understood as generically comprehending solid or semisolid carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide snow, or the like.

W'hile I 'have described my improvements in great `detail and with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such details or embodiments since many changes and modifications may be made and the invention vin its broader aspects embodied in widely different forms. Hence I desire to cover all modifications and embodiments coming within the language or scope or any one or more of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of handling refrigerating I material, which comprises sealing solid carbon dioxide in a plurality of containers at different times whereupon change in phase of said solid carbon dioxide occurs at different times, withdrawing the material as changed in phase only from the first sealed container, and thereafter withdrawing material as changed in phase from the second sealed container.

2. The method of handling refrigerating material, which ycomprises sealing solid carhon dioxide in a container whereupon change inphase thereof occurs, withdrawing the material as changed in phase from said container, sealing other solid carbon dioxide in another container before exhaustion of said phase-changed material whereupon change in phase of said other solid carbon dioxide occurs, and thereafter withdrawing material as changed in phase from said last named container.

3. The method of handling material, which comprises sealing phase-changeable material in a container whereupon change in phase thereof occurs, withdrawing 'the material as changed in phase from said container, sealing other phase-changeable material in another container before exhaustion of said phasechanged material whereupon change in phase of said other phase-changeable material occurs, and thereafter withdrawing material as changed in phase from said last-named container.

4, The method of handling phase-changeable material of the class described, which includes changing the phase of charges of said material at different times in different containers to produce gas under pressure in 

